Hi Sheri, I always advocate the more "natural" way of treating plants, which would mean exposing them to winter this year. Of course, you want to make sure they are hardy for your zone first. What stage are they in right now? Are their exposed to colder nights? Have their leaves started to change color? How well insulated is your chicken coop? Is that basically an indoor situation? If they are currently in a warm "indoor" situation than it may already be too late to be moved outside this late in the year. On the other hand, if they are somewhat exposed to cooler day and night temperatures than they should be getting ready to slow down for winter, in which case you could bury the pots in the ground outside in a sheltered spot and mulch them well, so the roots are not so exposed to the freezing weather. Keep them out of direct sunlight and wind. if you get a lot of snow I would let them get buried in that, it makes for great insulation. Whichever way you decide to go, good luck with your seedlings. Let us know how you proceeded and how it turned out. Marc

So I was later, very late in fact, to sow the seeds in regards to my first frost date in zone 6a, that is in PA. And I decided to grow the seedlings indoors and will eventually transplant them out in the garden bed after the last frost date. My question is that, since I only have one grow light and I need to use that now to grow new seedlings, annuals, what is the best way to make sure, after I remove these grown seedlings from under the light, that they do not die and survive until it is time to transplant them outside. I have read a bit about overwintering but can that be done only before winter sets it? What are my options now, to keep these seedlings, away from the grow light and still keep them alive. Should I just stick them in the ground outside one day when the temperature is above 0C? Place them in the unheated garage? Our garage has no light access btw, so will that affect them if this option is viable? Thanks

I dont know how much space you have, but with lupine and poppies, I probable would just winter sow them. My space is limited however, my indoor set up is for veggies and annuals and other tender plants. Any temperate plant I will try to wintersow, besides its fun to throw seeds and dishes into the snow and have all your relatives and friends think your nuts if you dont know what im talking about you can check out www.wintersown.org or just check out the forum here on gardenweb.

Your main concern with those small plants planted out now is possibility of heaving and exposing lots of roots to freezing weather. What I have done in the past very successfully is to put mine in the frost free area outside- I have basement window wells outside which are covered with plastic- air exchange allows temps to stay fairly above the freezing all throughout the winter. You can bring it in the cold basement sometimes in the next couple of weeks and leave it alone, maybe water it once in Feb or so and take it out in the spring but you have to keep it rather on dry side or they will rot. Those ones that have largest root system could be planted even now. I would dump large pile of oak leaves on that area after soil frozen. If you plant is very small you could bring it under lights but as with most perennials they do need their cold period to develop well so trying to grow them over winter is tooo much trouble IMHO